Baidoa–United Nations Support Office (UNSOS) conducted a five-day environment conservation training programme for African Union Mission to Somalia (ATMIS) peacekeepers, equipping them to protect the environment during military operations. 

The training, conducted in Baidoa, South West State, late June, aimed to deepen security officers’ understanding of natural resource management and minimise the environmental impact of peace support operations, aligning with the UN Department of Operational Support (UNDOS) Environment Strategy.

“The UNDOS environment strategy requires personnel to be responsible in maximising efficient use of resources and minimising risks to personnel , the local community and the ecosystem as well as leaving behind a positive legacy, whenever possible,” said UNSOS Environment Officer, Richard Oyoo.

Oyoo highlighted UNSOS’s commitment to safeguarding Somalia’s environment through initiatives such as recycling, reducing electricity consumption generate from fossil fuel by utilising renewable energy like solar.

“By reducing energy use, we save fuel and generally reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, which drive global warming, resulting in climate change,” he added.

The training covered theoretical knowledge and practical skills in sustainable management of environmental aspects, namely, water, energy waste.

Participants also visited environmental facilities such as water treatment plant, wastewater treatment facility, waste management yard , and diesel generator powerhouses. 

Ghana FPU Deputy Contingent Commander SP Kwabena Boateng commended UNSOS for integrating environmental management into peace  operations support and highlighted the training’s beneficial role in understanding how to conduct daily operations responsibly.

“We are committed to reducing waste, using resources efficiently, and being conscious of our negative impacts on the environment,” he added.

DSP Gifty Essel-Dadzie, the Logistical and Public Information Officer, emphasized the significance of the training for newly deployed officers.

“The training has been beneficial for proper waste management and sustainable water usage and is robust. We are grateful to UNSOS,” stated Dadzie.

In addition, UNSOS has established a nursery for tree seedlings production in Baidoa to contribute to Somalia’s reafforestation efforts. The tree seedlings are distributed to the local community through ATMIS  as part of the Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) program. 

Somalia is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change, experiencing prolonged droughts and devastating floods.

The reafforestation project supports Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud’s ‘Regreening Somalia’ initiative, which aims to plant 10 million trees to enhance the country’s climate resilience.

UNSOS has been at the forefront of developing the capacity of Somali Security Forces (SSF) and ATMIS personnel to deal with the ravages of climate change both at the federal and state levels.